Germany - Forestry

Total forest area amounted in 2000 to over 10.7 million hectares(26.5
million acres), about 31% of the total land area. Reforestation has
resulted in a 6% increase in the forest area since the end of World War
II (1939–45). Deciduous species (such as beech, oak, ash, maple,
and alder) originally covered about two-thirds of the area, and conifers
were only predominant in higher elevations. Today, hardwood trees
comprise only one-third of the forests. Principal softwood species
include silver fir, pine, spruce, and Douglas fir, which was introduced
from the northwest United States late in the 19th century. The most
thickly wooded of the federal Länder are Hessen and
Rhineland-Pfalz. A total of 33,400,000 cu m of timber was cut in 2001.
The harvest represented about 70% of Germany's annual rate of
wood regrowth. Consumption of timber by the wood working industry is
39–42 million cu m (1.4–1.5 billion cu ft) per year. Total
trade in forest products during 2000 included $10.8 billion in imports
and $9.9 billion in exports. Output of paper and paperboard totaled
18.18 million tons in 2000, fifth highest after the United States,
China, Japan, and Canada. High domestic labor costs compel Germany to
import substantial quantities of value-added products such as veneers
and panels.

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